The 7th Virginia Regiment

Authorized on January 11, 1776 in the Virginia State Troops as the 7th Virginia Regiment.

Organized between February 7- May 8, 1776 at Gloucester Court House to consist of 10 companies from Halifax, Albemarle, Botetourt, Gloucester, King William, Essex, Middlesex, Cumberland, King and Queen, Orange and Fincastle Counties.

ENGAGEMENTS

UNIT HISTORY

In September 1778, the Virginia Line was rearranged, by reducing the fifteen regiments to eleven. The reorganization saw the 5th Virginia Regiment (of 1775) redesignated the 3rd Virginia and the 7th Virginia regiments becoming the "new" Fifth Regiment. The Commander of the "new" Fifth was Col. William Russell.

Little is written about the 5th Regiment during the winter of 1778 -79. In the reorganization of the Virginia Line in May 1779, the 5th Regiment became part of Brig. Gen. William Woodford’s Brigade. Following operations in the Northern Colonies, the Virginia troops were ordered south to join Brig. Gen. Benjamin Lincoln in defense of the Southern Colonies. These troops under Woodford and Scott entered Charleston,
South Carolina on April 7, 1780.
On May 12, 1780, General Lincoln surrendered the city of Charlestown, along with the entire Virginia Line of Continental troops to the British.